STORRS, Conn. - In their first game back in the Freitas Ice Forum over the past three weeks, the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team struggled offensively as they fell to No. 5 Boston University, 4-0 this afternoon. The Huskies fall to 6-9-1 on the season and 4-3-1 in Hockey East play while the Terriers improve to 12-2-3 and 4-1-3 in conference action.
Boston University controlled the tempo from the beginning, with their first goal of the game coming at the 3:02 mark when Jenn Wakefield moved the puck around Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que.) for the eventual game-winner. The Huskies managed just two shots during the first period, as they struggled to get their offensive started during the first 20 minutes of action.
The Terriers, who ended the game with a 21-12 advantage in shots, outshot UConn in all but the second period when the Huskies held the 7-6 advantage. In the final minutes of the second period Garcia was able to hold the Terriers to a one goal lead when she made a great save after BU's Wakefield had a one-on-one opportunity at the net. That would not last for long though, as BU extended its lead to 2-0 when they capitalized on a power play in the 17th minute of the second period.
Prior to the 16:07 mark in the second period the Huskies had been perfect on the penalty kill in five straight contests, holding their opponents scoreless on 16 power play opportunities.
During the final period, the UConn offense pressured Boston University when they had a power play opportunity at the 13 minute mark but the Huskies were unable to capitalize, as the Terriers posted two additional goals during the third period for the 4-0 victory.
Garcia made 17 saves in net for the Huskies, while BU's Kerrin Sperry kept UConn off the board with 12 saves of her own. Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont.) posted three shots on net during the contest and Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) tallied a pair to lead the UConn charge.
The Huskies return to action tomorrow (Dec. 5) when they travel to Providence to face the Friars in a 2:00 p.m. contest.